Alciato's Book of
Emblems

Emblem 194

Love of one's children

Before springtime, the white ring-dove makes her nest in the northern
cold, and sits on the eggs she laid too soon. And, so that her
young can nestle more softly, she plucks her own wings. Now,
naked herself, she grows faint in the winter chill. Aren't you
ashamed, O Colchian, and you, monstrous Procne, when a bird comes
to die out of love for her young?